Dog Owner's Guide

5 tips to break your dog of their barking habit

Of course having a dog also means that your new puppy will need to get trained to learn those things like not barking in your absence so that it does not turn into a hard to break habit. Try these 5 tips to break your dog of their barking habit:

1. Even though it’s cute to hear a puppy barking, once the grow up, it’s no longer cute – but annoying. It’s best to start training your dog not to bark at the wrong times when they’re a puppy.

When they bark at a stranger that comes into your yard or up to the house, praise them immediately. After one or two barks, command them by saying “Stop” or “Enough” and give them a chew toy or a treat to distract them from further barking. It’s important to praise them again when they take the toy or treat and display quite behavior.

2. Spend time with your puppy and provide plenty of attention to them when they’re quite. This will help them learn that they get attention for being quiet. Never yell at the puppy for barking because this will raise its anxiety level and encourage more aggressive behavior like biting or running away.

3. Using a spray bottle filled with plain water can be a deterent to a barking dog. This should not be your first method, but used only if using command words and praise don’t work.

4. Dogs often bark when they’re bored. If you have a problem with your dog barking while you’re away, one solution could be to supply them with more toys and activities to do while you’re gone. Make sure they’re toys that are safe for them to chew on when you’re not there to watch them.

5. A dog that is well exercised has fewer behavior problems. It’s essential that you walk your dog daily and provide them space to run and play often. The ideal time to do this is before you leave for the day. They will have expended some energy and will be less likely to bark the entire time you’re gone.

As with all dog training techniques, be as consistent as possible with these methods. Respond to their barking in the same way and they’ll know what to expect.